Draft appliance.



P. B. WOLFORD. DRAFT APPLIANCE. APPLICATION rum) MAY 10, 1912.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

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UNITED STAQESMIBECPENT OFFICE.

FRANK B. WOLFORID, OF SABINA, OHIO.

DRAFT APPLIANCE.

Z '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK B. VVoLroRo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sabina, in the county of Clinton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft Appliances; and

I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to draft appliances, and it more particularly relates to a frontispiece or draft frame to be used in connection with sleds.

The objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be. particularly defined by the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the construction embodying my invention,Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional detail view, and, Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional detail view, as seen from the under side. a I

Referring to these drawings, in which similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views, the sled as a whole is designated 5, and the draft beam or tongue 6 is connected to the sled 5 through the medium of my improved draft frame which is designated, as a whole,

by the numeral 7 The draft frame consists essentially of a pair of hooked and apertured side bars 8, the hooks 9 of which are engaged with U-bolts, eye bolts or the like 10, which are secured to the sled 5 as shown. The side bars 8 converge from the bolts 10, in a forward direction, and are secured to the tongue 6 bv a bolt or rivet 11, extending through the apertured ends of the members 8 and through the tongue or draft. beam.

The side bars 8 have their medial portion connected by a strut 12, the latter having its ends bent at an angle to its medial portion and secured to the side bars by rivets 13. The medial portion of the strut 1,2 is disposed at right angles to the length of the draft beam and is apertured atll. The rear end of the draft beam is engaged by a substantially U-shaped plate 15, the sides of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 10, 1912.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914. Serial No. 696,447.

which embrace the vertical sides of the draft beam and are apertured at right angles to the length of the draft beam, for the reception of a rivet or bolt 16, the latter passing through a corresponding aperture in the rear end portion of the draft beam.

The rear or base end of the U-shaped plate 15 is apertured to register with the aperture 14, for the reception of the rivet or bolt 17.

It is obvious that the hooks 9 could not possibly become accidentally disengaged from. the members 10; and yet, they may easily be purposely disengaged, by simply standing the sled 5 011 one side, so that the tongue 6 and frame 7 may be swung around approximately at right angles to the sled, so that the ends of the hooks 9 may easily be caused to pass out of engagement with the bolts 10. A pair of shafts, not shown, if provided with hooks 9, may then be substituted for the draft beam 6, which may be desirable at times, when an unusually light load is to be carried. The hooks 9 may also be released from the eyes 10, by raising the tongue 6 into vertical position, the body of the sled remaining horizontal.

The capability, of thisdevice, to attain the objects previously set forth, is obvious.

I do not limit my invention to the exact details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts disclosed in the foregoing, but my invention may only be limited by a reasonable interpretation of the following claim. I claim:

In a draft appliance, a tongue, side bars secured at their forward ends to said tongue and their rear ends divergent and forme into hooks, a strut having angular end portions secured to the divergent portionsof said side bars, a metallic plate embracing the rear end of said tongue, and means independent of the tongue securing said strut to said plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK B. WOLFORD.

WVitnesses:

R. L. HARRIS, HOWARD BARNS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eaclgby addressing the Commissioner of Patent:

Washington, D. G. 

